A soldier must learn how to fall to the ground without getting hurt, both during training and during combat. If he loses his balance or is thrown during a fight, his use of basic fall techniques enables him to escape injury or to quickly recover to protect himself.

WARNING

TO HELP PREVENT ACCIDENTS DURING FALLS, IT IS IMPORTANT TO EXHALE UPON IMPACT WITH THE GROUND. THIS HELPS THE BODY ABSORB THE IMPACT

a. Laying Side Fall. The laying side fall is a training exercise that teaches the basic movements for executing a side fall. To be safe, the fall is learned from the squatting position until soldiers can fall properly. From the squatting position (Figure 2-17, Step 1), the soldier extends one leg across the front of the body and raises his arm on the same side across his face (Figure 2-17, Step 2).

Then he rolls onto the exposed side, allowing the extended leg and side to absorb the shock of the fall. He slowly lowers his arm to stabilize his body. He raises his other hand to guard against future strikes (Figure 2-17, Step 3).

b. Standing Side Fall. The soldier starts the fall from the standing position (Figure 2-18, Step 1).

He lowers his weight on the supporting leg and extends the other leg across the body (Figure 2-18, Step 2).

He then distributes his body weight by rolling along the exposed side from the ankle of the extended leg to the back muscle. The arm on the ground is used to stabilize himself; the other hand is used to guard the body (Figure 2-l8, Step 3).

c. Forward Rolling Fall. The soldier starts the fall from the standing position (Figure 2-19, Step 1). He raises one arm to expose his entire side, places both hands on the ground, and bends both knees.

He rolls forward across the body along the hand, arm, and back to the opposite hip (Figure 2-19, Step 2) and ends in a good side fall position (Figure 2-19, Step 3).

He keeps his left leg flat on the ground, knee slightly bent. His right knee points upward and bends inward to help protect the groin. He keeps his right heel and sole flat on the ground behind the left leg.

d. Rear Fall. The soldier starts the fall from the standing position and keeps his head fonward to reduce the chance of head and neck injuries (Figure 2-20, Step 1).

He then falls backward and lowers his center of gravity by bending both knees. As his buttocks touch the ground, he rolls backward to absorb the momentum of the fall (Figure 2-20, Step 2).

He keeps his hands cupped and slaps his hands and arms down to help absorb the shock of impact and to stabilize his body (Figure 2-20, Step 3). He keeps his chin tucked on his chest.

Then, his legs come down slowly with knees bent and make contact with the ground (Figure 2-20, Step 4). He raises his hand to protect his face from kicks or blows. The soldier can kick his opponent from this position.

Other Military Sites

Archives

Copyright Combation.com (C) 2012-2018. All Rights Reserved.DISCLAIMER
Neither the United States Army nor any other component of the Department of Defense has approved, endorsed, or authorized this website.